Our Story

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Our Story

THE BEGINNINGS: A LAMP CALLED LUXO (1979-1991)

1979

George Lucas recruits Ed Catmull from theNew York Institute of Technology to head Lucasfilm’s Computer Division, a group charged with developing state-of-the-art computer technology for the film industry. Lucas’s wish list: a digital (nonlinear) film editing system, a digital (nonlinear) sound editing system, a laser film printer, and further exploration ofcomputer graphics.

1982

The Computer Division completes the “Genesis Effect” sequence for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The scene, which shows an initially lifeless planet being rapidly transformed by lush vegetation, is the first completely computer animated sequence in a feature film.

1983

The Computer Division’s Graphics Group creates their first film-resolution image, “The Road to Point Reyes.” Near the end of the year, animator John Lasseter is invited to come up to the Bay Area to do some freelance work with the Graphics Group.

1984

Lasseter is hired full-time, joining the Computer Division as an “Interface Designer.”

A partially completed version of “The Adventures of André & Wally B.” premieres at SIGGRAPH. It is the first short film created by the future animation studio, featuring complex flexible characters, hand-painted textures, and motion blur. It is also the first example of character animation in the young medium of computer animation.

At SIGGRAPH, the Computer Division also shows off its prototype Pixar Image Computer.

1985

The Computer Division completes the Stained Glass Knight sequence that appears in the film Young Sherlock Holmes.

1986

Steve Jobs purchases the Computer Division from George Lucas and establishes the group as an independent company, “Pixar.” At this time about 40 people are employed.

Pixar and Disney begin collaboration on CAPS, the Computer Animation Production System, which would revolutionize the creation of traditional animated films. The first check written to Pixar by a client after its incorporation is from Disney, for work on this project.

“Luxo Jr.” is completed. The short film, John Lasseter’s official directorial debut, is unveiled in August at SIGGRAPH and then screened for general audiences at Los Angeles-area theaters in November. “Luxo Jr.” will go on to become the first three-dimensional computer animated film to be nominated for an Oscar®, receiving a nomination forBest Short Film (Animated).

“Red’s Dream” is completed and premieres at SIGGRAPH. A portion of the film is rendered entirely on the Pixar Image Computer.

1988

Pixar’s proprietary animation system, identified to the outside world as Marionette but internally known as Menv (“men-vee”), short for “modeling environment,” comes online.

Both pieces of software are used to produce “Tin Toy,” Pixar’s third short film.A partially completed version of“Tin Toy” is screened at SIGGRAPH, with the finished film premiering later that year at the Ottawa International Film Fest. “Tin Toy”will go on to become the first computer animated film to receive an Academy Award® when it is named Best Short Film (Animated) the following year.

1989

“Knick Knack” is completed. A work-in-progress version is screened at that year’s SIGGRAPH. It is Pixar’s first animation producedin stereoscopic 3D.

The first commercial version of RenderMan®is released.

Pixar begins making commercials. The first is an ad for Tropicana orange juice, “Wake Up,” directed by John Lasseter.

1990

Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter join the company. By the end of the year, each animates a commercial – Andrew Stanton completes “Quite A Package” for Trident, and Pete Docter animates “Boxer” for Listerine. Pixar’s commercial work gives the company invaluable experience in pitching, storytelling, and working with clients, and allows it to develop and refine its production pipeline.

1991

Disney and Pixar announce an agreement “to make and distribute at least one computer-generated animated movie.”Pixar begins work on the project that will become Toy Story, while continuing to produce commercials and other short materials, including spots for public television.

to infinity and beyond

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to infinity and beyond

1995

Toy Story, the world’s first computer animated feature film, is released in theaters on November 22. It opens at #1 that weekend and will go on to become the highest grossing film of the year, making $192 million domestically and $362 million worldwide.

Pixar’s initial public offering takes place just days later, on November 28. It is the largest IPO of the year.

1996

Toy Story is recognized with Academy Award® nominations for Best Original Song, Best Original Score, and Best Original Screenplay—the first time an animated film is recognized for screenwriting. John Lasseter receives a Special Achievement Oscar® from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his “inspired leadership of the Pixar Toy Story Team resulting in the first feature-length computer animated film.”

Pixar announces that it will stop making commercials in order to concentrate on longer-format and interactive entertainment.

1997

The Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios announce an agreement to jointly produce five movies over 10 years.

1998

Groundbreaking for Pixar’s Emeryvillestudio begins.

"A Bug's Life" is released in theaters on November 25, accompanied by the short film “Geri’s Game.”

1999

Toy Story 2 is released in theaters on November 24. It is the first film in history to be entirely created, mastered and exhibited digitally. It is accompanied by a rerelease of “Luxo Jr.”

2000

Pixar moves to its new building in Emeryville, California.

2001

Monsters, Inc. is released in theaters on November 2, accompanied by the short film “For the Birds.”

2002

“A Bug's Land”, a themed land based on A Bug’s Life, opens at Disney California Adventure Park.

2003

Finding Nemo is released in theaters on May 30, accompanied by a re-mastered version of“Knick Knack.”

2004

The Incredibles is released in theaters on November 5, accompanied by the short film “Boundin’.”

“Turtle Talk with Crush” opens at Epcot in theWalt Disney World Resort.

2005

Pixar’s first external exhibition of original artwork, Pixar: 20 Years of Animation, opens at theMuseum of Modern Art in New York.

2006

The late story artist Joe Ranft is named a Disney Legend.

The Walt Disney Company announces that it has agreed to purchase Pixar Animation Studios. As part of the deal,Ed Catmull and John Lasseter also assume leadership of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Pixar celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Cars is released in theaters on June 9, accompanied by the short film “One Man Band.”

2007

Ratatouille is released in theaters on June 29, accompanied by the short film “Lifted.”

2008

WALL•Eis released in theaters on June 27, accompanied by the short film “Presto.”

“Toy Story Midway Mania!” opens at Disney parks in California and Florida.

2009

Up becomes the first animated feature film to open the Cannes Film Festival. It opens in wide release on May 29 with the short film “Partly Cloudy.”

"Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek" opens at Tokyo Disneyland

2010

Toy Story 3is released in theaters on June 18, accompanied by the short film “Day and Night.”

“Toy Story Playland,” a themed land based on theToy Story films, opens at Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris.

2011

Cars 2 is released in theaters on June 24, accompanied by the first Toy Story Toon, “Hawaiian Vacation.”

Pixar celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Construction of the second new building on Pixar’s Emeryville campus is completed.

“Toy Story Land” opens at Hong Kong Disneyland.

2012

Brave is released in theaters on June 22, accompanied by the short film “La Luna.”

"Cars Land" opens at Disney California Adventure Park.

Menv (“men-vee”), Pixar’s long-lived proprietary animation system, is officially retired in favor of a completely new proprietary system named Presto, after the studio’s 2008 short film. Brave is the first film animated using this new system—which is still referred to internally as “menv.”

Pixar, in partnership with the San Francisco Symphony, launches "Pixar in Concert", a symphonic rendition of the scores of Pixar films.

2013

Monsters University is released in theaters on June 21, accompanied by the short film “The Blue Umbrella.”